choice

It’s easy to feel overwhelmed when hearing news (real/fake/alternative) about climate change. Often reports don’t include small, positive steps that we can take to help the Earth — but leave us with a helpless sense of, “We’re screwed, no matter what we do.”

Hey, maybe we are. We’re all going to die and the Tibetans say the minute we’re born, we prepare for death. However, we may return very quickly on the Great Escalator, so why not emerge into what Charles Eisenstein calls “a more beautiful world our hearts know is possible”?

Here are 5 simple ways to create a more beautiful future, despite the news and naysayers.

1. Heal your wounds. No one goes through life unscathed. After thousands gof sessions with clients (despite outward appearance, $$ or status), I’ve learned that we all carry trauma, worries and heartache. We always have the choice of transmuting pain into unconditional love for ourselves and empathy for others. The world will heal through empathy, not war.

2. Learn about things that you don’t understand and try to listen to those who irritate you. Not easy to do — but another exercise in empathy and healing your wounds. Podcasts are a great way to dip your toes into topics that may puzzle or upset you. Sometimes I listen to screaming preachers on Christian radio, just to notice my reaction.

3. Donate to causes that are important to you and support your local farmer. Keep tabs on your politicians and make your voice known.

4. Reduce, reuse, recycle. Eat organic and use only natural products, especially those that enter our precious water supply. Be very conscious of your footprint.

5. Invest in companies that care about saving the planet (and avoid dragging people off planes…) This includes your stock portfolio — but every purchase matters. Get to know the companies you support and see their track record on the environment. This includes fast food restaurants, gas stations, clothing, transportation, etc.

Everything in life is a choice and these are small, easy steps to help your 8 billion neighbors and the natural world.